Trump to Deny Visas to Immigrants Who Seek Public Assistance

President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled a new rule on Monday that would reject applicants for temporary or permanent visas for receiving public assistance such as welfare, food stamps, public housing or Medicaid.

Such a change would ensure that immigrants “are self-sufficient,” in that they “do not depend on public resources to meet their needs, but rather rely on their own capabilities, as well as the resources of family members, sponsors, and private organizations,” a notice published in the Federal Register said.

“It will also have the long-term benefit of protecting taxpayers by ensuring people who are immigrating to this country don’t become public burdens, that they can stand on their own two feet, as immigrants in years past have done,” he said.

The overhaul is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration, an issue he has made a cornerstone of his presidency.

He has pledged to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico and has pressed for changes to immigration laws. Both efforts have made little progress with lawmakers.

This rule change on benefits could be the most drastic of all the Trump administration’s immigration policies, experts have said. Advocates for immigrants have criticized the plan as an effort to cut legal immigration without going through Congress to change U.S. law.

Under the new rules, more than half of all family-based green card applicants would be denied, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a research organization. Some 800,000 green cards were granted in 2016.

The new rule is derived from the Immigration Act of 1882, which allows the U.S. government to deny a visa to anyone likely to become a “public charge.” Immigration officers in recent years have defined visa applicants as a public charge if they are likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance.

Most immigrants are ineligible for the major aid programs until they get green cards but the new rule published by the Department of Homeland Security expands the definition of a public charge that stands to disqualify more people.

Applicants will now need to show higher levels of income to get a visa and the rule greatly expands the list of government benefits that would disqualify them from obtaining U.S. residency.

Immigrant advocates have expressed concern the rule could negatively affect public health by dissuading immigrants from using health or food aid to which they or their children are entitled.

Breaking News: To curb immigration, the Trump administration will target legal migrants who use public programs, such as food stamps and housing subsidies https://t.co/m4xOnlqEcK

Other parts of the Trump administration have taken or are contemplating similar approaches to penalize immigrants’ use of public assistance.

The State Department changed its foreign affairs manual in January 2018 to give diplomats wider discretion in deciding visa denials on public-charge grounds. In the 2018 fiscal year, which ended last September, the number of visas denied on those grounds quadrupled compared to the previous year.

The Justice Department also is considering a regulation that would dramatically expand the category of people who could be subject to deportation on the grounds that they use public benefits.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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41 COMMENTS

It’s about time incentives were curtailed. No more blood-suckering criminal hordes.
I consider myself a ‘normal’ American, and I doubt seriously that I am alone in wanting normal, legal, honest immigration. It’s nice to try and help some poor people in a disaster situation, or hide someone who is persecuted; but to incentivize them mass-migrating into the country in subversive ways is not ‘nice’. If you are willing to commit a criminal act in the first place, like crossing the boarder without going trough a checkpoint, and then extending your hand out for sustenance, you aren’t the type of immigrant we need. All the other honest citizens support themselves, there’s nothing wrong with expecting an immigrant to be able to do so.
We already have too many criminals in the country . . . The trouble is, a whole bunch of them are on Capital Hill.

Agree with you…totally. Being a LEGAL immigrant from Europe…my father HAD to have a job…we HAD to have a place to live…HAD to have a sponsor….before we could get a Visa for entry. NOT one red cent was EVER received from the USA. So…I think that every tax paying American should be able to take a tax deduction every year for ONE illegal that our tax dollars supports! Very touchy subject for me😖

Yes, I agree totally. It is self-evident(or it SHOULD BE) that you CANNOT have open borders and a welfare state(including free medical care) at the same time. That would provide an irresistable incentive for the entire third world to migrate here, especially illegally. Since the open-borders leftist Democrats are obstructing the wall and border security, the president is trying to remove the incentive in order to defend the country. How will the leftist Dems try to defeat this in their agenda to tear down the nation ?? Chant heard at a recent rally for socialism: “Fu__ your border, Fu__ your wall, We wil make your system fall !!!”

I don’t think most people knew that illegal aliens/immigrants were able to collect welfare as the belief was that you had to come legal and have a sponsor until you were self sufficient. During the Obama administration, the flood gates were opened to any and all. We knew about anchor babies, however, that was not highly publicized, and what a rip off of the American taxpayers. And the visa lottery is a joke, and a slap in the face to American citizens. And the temp status folks, another joke, temp for 19 years like Haitians? It’s no wonder America is so divided, too many non Americans here

I had to sign an “Affidavit of Support” when I married my wife in 1982 – she was from Peru. If I had to do that, there is nothing wrong with making ALL immigrants pledge to be self-supporting for at least 5 years after immigration.

Do not worry as soon as a LEFT WING LIBERAL POS gets elected as president; the illegals will have all the benefits they need as well as their on the side drug money and guess who will be paying for it.;YOU WILL MR AND MRS DEMOCRAT IN THE FORM OF INCREASED TAXES, probably the loss of your job or how about your home you live in, because is it not RACIST for you to have all those things especially if you are white. The holly wood elite left libs will tell you (when they are not busy snorting Coke) that most of our citizens (especially the central US) are Deplorables and maybe not even worthy of being alive (remember the movie they decided not to release). Also guess where these holly wood so called elites will be when their POS policies and ideas fail and destroy this nation; DEPARTING QUICKLY OFF TO THEIR OTHER HOME IN EUROPE OR SOME OTHER LOCATION OUT OF THE US AND BE LOL ALL OF THE WAY !!!!!

The below URL will take you to PopVox.com listing all the Bills Pending in Congress regarding “Family Immigration”. Note there are 4 pages of Pending Bills.

Due to the Bill Titles can be Deceiving (No surprise there) once you open the bill click on Congress.gov which will open in a separate tab allowing viewing of the actual text of the bill. The text stating what the bill hopefully will accomplish will enable you to determine whether you “Oppose” or “Support” the bill.

Make YOUR VOICE HEARD! SUPPORT this BILL pending in Congress – Pass It On!

H.R. 438 HELD Act Help Ensure Legal Detainers Act

To deny Federal funding to any State or political subdivision of a State that has in effect any law, policy, or procedure that prevents or impedes a State or local law enforcement official from maintaining custody of an alien pursuant to an immigration detainer issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Make YOUR VOICE HEARD! SUPPORT this BILL pending in Congress – Pass It On!

H.R. 140 Birthright Citizenship Act of 2019
Birthright Citizenship Act of 2019 This bill limits birthright citizenship by redefining what it means to be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. Currently, a person born in the United States and subject to U.S. jurisdiction is entitled to citizenship. Under the bill, a person is subject to U.S. jurisdiction if he or she is born to a parent who is (1) a U.S. citizen or national, (2) a lawful permanent resident residing in the United States, or (3) an alien performing active service in the Armed Forces.

The below URL will take you to PopVox.com listing all the Bills Pending
in Congress regarding “Defunding Sanctuary Cities/Campuses”.

Due to the Bill Titles can be Deceiving (No surprise there) once you open the bill click on Congress.gov which will open in a separate tab allowing viewing of the actual text of the bill. The text stating what the bill hopefully will accomplish will enable you to determine whether you “Oppose” or “Support” the bill.

The below URL will take you to PopVox.com listing all the Bills Pending
in Congress regarding “Dreamers aka DACA”.

Due to the Bill Titles can be Deceiving (No surprise there) click on Congress.gov which will open in a separate tab allowing viewing of the actual text of the bill. The text stating what the bill hopefully will accomplish will enable you to determine whether you “Oppose” or “Support” the bill.

The below URL will take you to PopVox.com listing all the Bills Pending
in Congress regarding “Immigration”.

Due to the Bill Titles can be Deceiving (No surprise there) once you open the bill click on Congress.gov which will open in a separate tab allowing viewing of the actual text of the bill. The text stating what the bill hopefully will accomplish will enable you to determine whether you “Oppose” or “Support” the bill.

All countries in the world but for America, Poland, Hungary & Italy have bit the Globalist Totalitarian dust. UK, Canada & other countries are now waking up & looking at having to shoot their way out of the Leftist-Jihadist death cult grip. We are now in the shoot-our-way-out stage & people still don’t see it thanx to the hoaxstream-hatestream fake news like Fox, CNN, MSNBC, WaPo, NYTimes, HuffPo, etc. Lying & twisting like the reptiles they are.

We are under hostile invasion at our southern border. It is a severe national emergency that has been going on for 30yrs now. We are going down now & if the INVASION is not STOPPED NOW we are finnished.
Lessons in Gutterball politics:

The lying Leftists think because they are robots that the rest of us are robots.

The psychological age of these Leftists is about 7.
They are narcistic-psychos.
The are bullies & terrorists.
There is no reasoning with them.
They do not relent in their insanity.
Like a wild animal in a constant seething rage.
Conservative manual for converting leftist brain-fog cases.
TIPPING POINTS: How to Topple the Lefts House of Cards. LIZ WHEELER of OAN.
JIHADIST PSYCHOPATH: How He is Charming, Seducing & Devouring Us. JAMIE GLAZOV.

Fastest way to stop the invasion of illegals is to cut all benefits. When they realize the ”
American Free Ride” is over many will not come. Many come not to work but for the many benefits they can get here.

I agree, and it should have been done many, many, years ago. I think one concern is, even if it prevents new illegal border crossers, what about the illegals that are ready here ? Will they just “self deport” or will they just create another “humanitarian crisis” ? I assume the whole world is watching closely.

I agree with GerryG completely! After all, Mexico has the very same law. You can’t just move there without being about to support yourself. They actually have very good laws protecting themselves and their country. We should adopt all of them here in the US. I’m glad the President is taking steps to drop the incentive to move here. Drop all the rest of the free stuff also. If they don’t come through the check point then automatically ‘out they go’!!

It used to be the keystone to immigration in the U.S., do you have a skill with which you can support your self and benefit the economy??? This is the first question that should be asked of each immigrant. If they don’t turn them away.

Yes that should be one of the questions. However we can’t spend a lot of time making them learn English. Those that are able to work should be working. Should have money they don’t need to sneak in here.

Agree with you…totally. Being a LEGAL immigrant from Korea…my mother-in-law HAD to have a Sponsor…we HAD to have a place for her to live…I HAD to sponsor her….before we could get a Visa for entry. NOT one red cent was EVER received from the USA. I had to provide financial documents proving I could support her with NO Government assistance So…I think that every tax paying American should be able to take a tax deduction every year for ONE illegal that our tax dollars supports! Very touchy subject for me😖 If they can’t pay their own way they DON’T ENTER THE UNITED STATES!!

It’s awe-inspiring, what your family went through to immigrate here LEGALLY. And it demonstrates the outrage that the open-borders Dems are perpetrating by allowing and encouraging illegals, who skip all those processes, and yet get the entire welfare cascade. Like ex-Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown(D) said: 2014: “We WELCOME undocumented immigrants.” Really, Jerry? What do you say to the families of people like Ralph Rigby who went through the legal process and upheld the law? “Sorry, chump. Too bad!!” ??

It’s about time someone has the courage to stand up to these career politicians who basically are trying to suck the American taxpayer dry. The worst thing that ever happened to this country was we allowed parasites to run for office and become career politicians. The only objective of a career politician is to do whatever they have to do to remain in office. The first move of the American people should be to eliminate career politicians. Do you want to help America out, fantastic, put 2 to 4 years in public office, and then move on. No lifetime pension, no lifetime healthcare no lifetime anything. It was an honor for you to serve your country, just like our military. After service you move on , When you reach retirement age then you draw a small pension similar to our military veterans.

Every other country has them prove they can support themselves and not freeload so why should we be condemned for wanting the same for our country. If this was the case then I believe they would not be pouring into this country by the Millions.

There are a lot of people that we do not need to be letting on Welfare. There is a housing problem for the elderly in this Country. There are a lot of elderly that can take care of themselves, but need a little help, like the outside of house. Need a little help in cleaning house. All that Colorado has done is give the reduced priced housing to the Illegals. A lot are working and have plenty of money. Too many children are on demand. So why can’t we give this reduced priced housing to the elderly. Why can’t we raise the SS for the Elderly. Why does the elderly have to be on food stamps. We have a lot of the Illegals on Food Stamps in Colorado, we have a lot of Illegals roaming the streets, no job. They should not even be here. That is why we wanted the Wall.